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I’ll be sure to look for this one – I want to read it and know the ending. Which will probably make me cry, since I’m, um, hormonal just now.

Can’t wait to check this one out! Especially for the art deco inspired illustrations. Reminds me of another horse themed PB I love by Elizabeth Friedrich, Leah’s Pony. Read aloud it never fails to engage my 4 year old, but the historical subject matter make it a great read-alone for older kids. Great review Tara, of what seems like a really moving story.

This looks like a great book! I love the illustrator’s style! Very nice! Thanks Tara!

I’m a sap for this type of story, and I am over 12. I’m getting a tear just expecting how the story ends. Thanks for the heads up.
Lynn~~

good times…

since when do the words “actual talent” and “American Idol” go together?

Maybe it was really a sarcastic dig at American Idol?

It wasn’t a sarcastic dig at Idol, it was just another example of SD pissing down the necks of their guests. This isn’t the first time that the powers that be have said they don’t want us there any longer. Call and politely but firmly voice your displeasure with the Mayor and his hatred of the tall comics dollar at (619) 236-6330. The Convention Office Liason is Steven Liu. His voice mail should be full by the end of the day. I’d suggest that the organizers of SDCCI move the show to Los Angeles, but they can barely handle the travel arrangements. Moving the show would kill them.

Thanks for the phone number.
His office should be aware of such blunders - especially in this day and age of instant communication. Old guard politicians will learn their lesson the hard way soon. Just goes to show what you can say when not running for office in a campaign versus the reality of actually doing the job.

Moving to LA wouldn’t be the end of the world, and I’m sure the comics connection with Hollywood would only benefit - if not partially foot the bill, as well. 140K sold out record is nice leverage. But I admit…. the transition would be hard on Comic-Con.

I called Sanders’s office and expressed my displeasure. I’m a San Diego resident who votes in San Diego elections. I also happen to be a professional cartoonist who exhibits at Comic Con every year. I made these facts perfectly clear. I’ll be very surprised, however, if Sanders reconsiders any of his opinions, either publicly or privately.

For all the other flaps and kerfluffles he’s caused, Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman would never say anything that stupid.

(And, I still have all the contact info for the LVCVA people to hand. When I started writing the article making the case to move the con to Vegas, they called me during the busiest two weeks of their year to let me know they were happy to answer any questions I might have.)

For all the other flaps and kerfluffles he’s caused, Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman would never say anything that stupid.

(And, I still have all the contact info for the LVCVA people to hand. When I started writing the article making the case to move the con to Vegas, they called me during the busiest two weeks of their year to let me know they were happy to answer any questions I might have.)

It’s way past time, move the thing to Vegas. The City of San Diego really doesn’t give a damn. The trolley thing, ugh, I trying to repress it. It’s to the point where it’s not enjoyable but an ordeal.

I exhibit at BookExpo America every year, and believe me, by comparison most of SDCC is a breeze. Not saying there aren’t any problems, but things could be a lot worse. Last year’s 2005 BEA in Washington DC was held at a conmvention center where there were no exit signs visible from the middle of the hall, and where large stretches of the hall were only served by single-file escalators. If there had been a fire or other emergency, that was just asking for bodies to be piled up. This year’s BEA in the Javits Center in Manhattan: there was no air conditioning the entire first day. No. Air. Conditioning. The Javits is also only accessible by taxis (which you can’t catch going away from the Javits) or shuttle buses. Or walking, which is what most people do to get out of the show. There are no hotels within blocks and blocks of the Javits, and there is no public transportation aside from cross-town buses. There are no solid restaurants within easy walking distance of the Javits. There is no equivalent of Ralph’s.

Las vegas does conventions right, you betcha. The monorail was a good addition but from what I understand (Evanier knows, I bet), it has had some severe problems. But since SDCC signed a contract to stay in San Diego for several years beyond this one, it’s unlikely there’s any move in the immediate future. More hotels and parking on their way over the next couple years may help a little next year, but yes indeed, those train tracks are poor city planning.

I just sent this link to the people who run the San Diego news. Others should do so, too.
http://www.10news.com/news/178913/detail.html

Oh, and one other thing. In saying that the American Idol people have the real talent, the Mayor is dismissing the works of attendees/guests who have won awards such as: Pulitzer, Hugo, Nebula, Locus, Emmy, WGA, Oscar and (oh irony of ironies) the Grammy.

What a jerk. Talk about biting the hands that feeds.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070725-9999-1n25charity.html

The above link is to a newspaper story that points out that since the San Diego Comic Con is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charity, it pays less to the city in traffic-control fees. It’s worth checking out.

I seem to recall that someone threw a con in Vegas a few years ago, and it was, by all accounts, a miserable failure. I recommend reading Heidi’s post here before you start boning up on your poker skills:

http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=39;t=000059

Scroll down a bit until you get to this:

REVIVE LAS VEGAS: The recent “Extrosion” convention In Las Vegas seemed to prove two adages:

#1– Throwing a comic book convention in Las Vegas is never a good idea.

#2 – Naming a convention something that’s sounds like a medical procedure is never a good idea.

lwk

I remember Steven Grant wrote a bunch about the Vegas comic con at the time.

The mayor has issued an official statement. The last paragraph:

“The mayor in no way meant to disparage the talent and attention to detail shown by anyone attending Comic-Con. He loves you guys and looks forward to seeing you next year, and is sorry for the misunderstanding. ”

The whole statement is at My Site

http://40yearoldfanboy.blogspot.com/

Color me surprised.

Hey guys, please pass this around. thanks!
g.

Anybody who thinks that Jerry Sanders doesn’t really love Comic-Con doesn’t know about his history with this convention. When he was chief of police he helped make this one of the most secure and fun conventions to attend in the world. Since being elected mayor, Jerry has gone to opening day for each of the past two years.

In his first year as mayor, Jerry joined Comic-Con president John Rodgers to help unveil the DC Comics Super Heroes stamps, saying to a packed house of more than 3,000 in attendance:

“Comic book Superheroes continue to capture the imagination of people young and old, and the Superheroes of DC Comics are some of the mostly widely recognized icons in the world. I can’t think of a more fitting subject to be memorialized in a U.S. Postage Stamp Series, and I couldn’t be prouder that these stamps are having their exclusive First Day Stamp Issue here in San Diego.

You can’t help but get caught up in the energy and buzz that takes over San Diego each year when more than 100,000 participants flock to Comic Con. This is truly the one convention that everyone talks about each year, and I’m so pleased that Comic Con continues to call San Diego home. I hope you continue to come back for many years to come.”

Then just last week, as he kicked off the Yu-Gi-Oh! World’s Fair and International Championship Tournament sponsored by Upper Deck and KONAMI, the mayor said:

“We also appreciate how Yu-Gi-Oh and all its players add to our local economy and to our status as one of the world’s leading creative communities. I’m proud to say that in addition to everything else Upper Deck and the KONAMI Corporation bring to San Diego, they also bring jobs.

That’s a great local business connection and just a small example of how important creative games and creative companies like Upper Deck and KOMAMI are to cities like San Diego.”

The mayor went so far as to declare opening day at Comic-Con “Yu-Gi-Oh! Day” in the City of San Diego and gave Upper Deck’s John Sepenuk a special resolution commemorating that declaration.

The mayor gets it, the mayor likes it, the mayor has a good time, and like everyone else who attends, he enjoys the excitement, the energy, and, yes … all the costumes and hoopla that are such a big part of what Comic-Con has become.

The mayor in no way meant to disparage the talent and attention to detail shown by anyone attending Comic-Con. He loves you guys and looks forward to seeing you next year, and is sorry for the misunderstanding.

Jerry Sanders isn’t all that smart sometimes.

I’ll be careful the next time I get a drink from a punchbowl.

TChav -

Take it from me - that Vegas con held three years back totally sucked ass! It was run by a few renegade San Diego Comic Con committee members thinking they could have done a better job ( like I should talk ) - Anyway - they had placed my booth right next to a pair of con artist psychic fortune tellers who kept pickpocketing the wallets off a few ( not exaggerating when I casually throw out that word) attendees - just goes to show what happens when you try to expand the horizons beyond usual comic book convention merchandizing.

~

Coat

In addition to media outlets, I encourage people to also email the mayor directly and express your distate:

http://www.sandiego.gov/mayor/contact/

Personally, I demanded a public apology amongst my vehement remarks.

I’m insulted. And I hope the CCI board is too. So insulted that they demand a new Convention Center.

In fact, there’s some land at the I-8/I-15 interchange that’s going to open up in the next few years that would make a perfect site for a new convention center.

156 acres. New convention center. Dare to dream.

[…] –Both Dirk and Heidi reported on this yesterday … according to the site pinkraygun.com, the mayor of San Diego went on the radio and said, “We’ve put up the superheroes and now we’re on to the people with actual talent.” Pinkraygun.com goes on to say: John swears he heard Sanders say, “We got rid of the superheroes,” but whether he said “got rid of” or “put up” or “put away”, the impression is that the mayor of San Diego barely tolerates our presence during Comicon weekend. 140,000 people spending money in his city is nothing to scoff at, despite the inconvenience of gridlock in front of the convention center and people walking around the Gaslamp in costume. […]

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article SD Mayor about as tactful as a turd in a punchbowl, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

And the Great Question remains unanswered:

WERE THERE CHOCOLATE-COVERED STRAWBERRIES???

Alas, no.

So sorry to disappoint you Elayne! Sadly, no. Chocolate-covered strawberries were beyond our budget this year… but the brownies were mighty fine!!!

We’ll try extra hard for next year, ok!

“But the job of covering the show this year became increasingly complicated by the need to plan and stand in line, often for long periods of time, in order to ensure access to these events.”

The mobs of people should give us all a clue that the organizers of the Con and its thousands of sponsors, advertisers and product-hawkers don’t really need (or particularly care about) the added press coverage of the “lowly” comic book outlets.

And really…is anyone out here in Fan Land suffering from a lack of information? I think we get everything we need from one source or another…and if I don’t find out about what went down at the “Secret Messages in Golden Age Advertising” panel, I guess I can live with that.

It wasn’t just the pro panels that got this treatment.

Whoever scheduled the room for the Harry Potter fan meet up (two weeks after the movie’s release, and a week after the final book’s release) really flamingoed up.

The room was *full* with a good two hundred people still queuing up to go in. WTF?

That said, I didn’t even bother getting in line for the Heroes panel (the line *wrapped around* the second floor), and Wil Wheaton didn’t even get into the Futurama panel. (Both panels were in Ballroom 20, btw.)

I think they should add some sort of reserved seating for exhibitors as well. I was able to go to one panel during the whole show. The only other panel I really wanted to go see had people lined up hours in advance, not to mention the squatters already in the room that were just waiting for the panel that was after it. As a small press exhibitor, I can’t leave my table to wait in line two hours to see a one hour panel. Even with friends or other exhibitors able to watch my table for me, it’s quite a burden to put on people that want to see panels as well.

I’m not surprised that members of the media think that they deserve special treatment.

I fail to see how that benefits the actual paying convention customers at all.

SDCCI no longer needs press coverage. They have established themselves as the Mecca for all true believers, geeks, and nerds.
Panels can be covered by podcasts, fans in the room, and the panelists themselves (see: “gay men” snog at the Eisners).
An exhibitor can rent a space for media interviews and briefings, or the Con can provide a space.
If someone wishes to attend a panel, then they follow the Congressional Hearing system: hire someone to stand in line for you, then claim your space in line ten minutes before the doors open.
otherwise, do an exit interview with someone who was at the panel.

Perhaps some of those paying customers missed a panel, and they’d like to read about it afterward? And since exhibitors at the con are also paying customers, I think they’d appreciate some media coverage of whatever project they’re there to promote, and making it more difficult for journalists to do that seems counter-productive.

Nat, maybe I’m reading more snark into your tone than was intended, but I fail to see how the solutions being suggested would be any different from newspapers getting press passes to sporting events or pre-release movie screenings, etc., etc. Of course for all I know, such a system is already in place for the bigger media players.

One more thing… at my Barnes & Noble, we host a lot of celebrity events. When the media show up, they are corralled into i little pen near the stage, where they can take photos. They are NOT allowed to ask questions, but are welcome to stay and take notes. This is what SDCCI should do: offer a press area with no seating, near an exit door. Each Guest Of Honor would also have a scheduled press conference for media only.
The Con should also offer a live continuous video feed to any website who requests it. This would reduce the media demand, while preventing the Con from spinning controversy.

I understand there were something like 3000 press badges issued this year. I’m wondering how it would be decided which press should get special privileges to cover events and which shouldn’t. Similarly, there were something like 5,000 exhibitor badges issued. I’m an exhibitor myself, and aside from the two panels I was on, I saw only 5 minutes of another, but I don’t see the feasibility of having a special exhibitor seating area either.

Jackie E.

“Nat, maybe I’m reading more snark into your tone than was intended, ”

No you’re not.

That said, I didn’t even bother getting in line for the Heroes panel (the line *wrapped around* the second floor)

My wife was in that line for something like 2.5 hours and still didn’t make it into the room. She wanted to go to the Battlestar Galactica panel afterward, and was determined to get something out of standing there so long, so she stayed in line after they closed the doors. This left her right by the front doors to the room during most of the Heroes panel. She said it was painful to hear everyone inside cheering, without knowing what was going on. She eventually was able to watch the video footage online — after we got home.

I understand there were something like 3000 press badges issued this year.

I actually ended up with a press pass this year at the last minute, since I agreed to do daily reports for Comics Should be Good. I didn’t need it, but figured it would get me a little more access than the regular badge, so I picked it up. In the end, all it got me was recognition from a couple of people I talked to, who said, “Oh, Comic Book Resources!” There was (apparently — I never got far enough forward to see it) a press corral for photographers in Hall H, but the one time I was there, the the row of chairs was so packed that I didn’t want to mess with getting out and back in.

As for figuring out which press members get “special treatment,” maybe instead of blanket access, they could have a reservation system. Set aside a certain number of seats for press, but require each person to sign up ahead of time for a specific panel. And cut that off well before the start of the panel. (Just thinking out loud.)

Personally, I’d like some system put in where con attendees (and I’m including Exhibitors and Pros and the like in this) could get to sign up in advance for one Hall H/Room 20 item and be guaranteed seating up until, say, 5 minutes before the start. There’s usually one or two items in those rooms I’d like to see, but aren’t willing to wait several hours to insure that I get to. And yes, I’m aware this requires a whole new “registration” system and puts stress on Programming to get a schedule for those rooms set fairly early. I understand that the Con may think this is too much effort, but figure it’s worth at least tossing out.

I’ll also confess to completely ignoring the “Studio Reps Only” signs and sitting in those seats for both Neil’s spotlight and Quick Draw (with the excuse for Quick Draw that I actually do need to be up near the front as Mark traditionally calls on me first to do the guess words from drawings game as well as making use of my having a stopwatch function on my watch). More than half were empty, I strongly suspected most people in them weren’t reps, and to be blunt, for those two items there is absolutely no reason I can think of why a studio rep should get any special treatment or privileges whatsoever.

“Perhaps some of those paying customers missed a panel, and they’d like to read about it afterward?”

I haven’t noticed major panels going without coverage under the current system.

“Nat, maybe I’m reading more snark into your tone than was intended, but I fail to see how the solutions being suggested would be any different from newspapers getting press passes to sporting events or pre-release movie screenings, etc., etc.”

Pre-release moving screenings are intended to be press events. That’s what they are there for, much as press conferences are. But even if that weren’t the case, I don’t see that other places do it inherently makes it right in general, much less specifically right for panels at Comic-Con. (As Tom McLean noted, there are apparently plenty of press-only events for relevant folks to get information to the press.)

It’s not particularly snarky to note that the people who Heidi cited as calling for more special treatment for the press were members of the press, and not, say, the people who were standing in line for two hours to get into an event who may find themselves kept out of it were there special press set-asides . Rather, it seems to me an appropriate point to raise when addressing the claim that this “has gotten in just about everyone’s craw”.

I had the darnedest time getting into ballroom 20. I think they just need better overall crowd/panel management. Perhaps the increasing masses are starting to overwhelm the Con.

I am curious where our common media source weighs in on this. Heidi, you only gave us other people’s opinions. As far as your experience as a media member at Comic-Con, does it need improvements?

“Pre-release moving screenings ”

Of course, I meant “movie” screenings. I don’t think we need floating film shows!

But I did want to take a moment to agree with those who are hoping with some general improvement on the seating system. Someone squatting through two hours of panels they’re not interested in to make certain they have a seat for the one they really want is obviously not enjoying the best possible experience… nor are the people who don’t get into the panel they want because of the seats filled up by those squatters. Can’t say that I see an easy solution to this, though, but I hope someone comes up with one.

[…] “I fail to see how that benefits the actual paying convention customers at all.” - Nat Gertler, unimpressed by press complaints over the San Diego Comic-Con […]

“Animator Harry McCracken…”
That’s just Harry’s animation fan site; he is the editor in chief of PC World.

As a tech journalist, I’ve gone to huge crowded keynotes for 20 years — and there is always reserved press seating. It’s not “favored” treatment: it’s just business, meant to ensure that the company’s message gets propogated as much as possible. Any company making the effort to put on a big presentation must decide if it is more important to reach the fans [or business attendees] at the event, or the presumably many more the media would get the message to.
Of course, that’s a decades-old paradigm: now that almost everyone has a blog and in at least some sense is a journalist, it makes it a trickier call for those deciding who sits where.

I too stood in line for hours to get into Heroes, and didn’t quite make it. But I stayed in line since I wanted to see Futurama. I made it in after some of the Heroes fans left B-20. My frustration, once in this room (as well as the Smallville panel) was that I knew a lot of people were still waiting to get in after the doors were closed, and there were empty scattered seats available all around.

I think they need to think about “overflow” rooms for the biggest panels, where the unlucky (but interested) can still watch the panel on a large screen tv screen. That way, they can still (somewhat) experience the panel without being completely (and literally) shut out.

Nat Gertler’s bleating about “special treatment for the press” is blind to the fact that the entertainment press isn’t at SDCC for fun - it’s there to do a job that’s sanctioned by the con WHICH GIVES THEM PRESS BADGES. That the press is the only complaining about not being facilitated to do its chores is not on par with asking for its own wet bar. Grow up.

No, Robert, I’m not blind to the fact that the press (or at least some of them) aren’t there for fun (with all those press badges, I suspect that many wearing them are indeed there for fun.) However, I do believe that CCI’s primary job at the convention should be to entertain the paying customers, their members.

That certain members of the press feel that the people who are there to have fun should have less fun because they’re not satisfied with the forms of special access that they already have… well, that doesn’t seem real convincing to me If you want to come up with a reason why it’s Comic-Con’s responsibility to give these people additional special access, feel free to do so. But if the best logic you can come up with is to whine “grow up”, then perhaps you need to examine your stance a mite more carefully.

There is a possibility I may end up going to San Diego next year under a press pass.

If I have to stand in multi-hour line ups in order to cover something, than fuck it, I ain’t going to cover it.

There is a possibility I may end up going to San Diego next year under a press pass.

If I have to stand in multi-hour line ups in order to cover something, than fuck it, I ain’t going to cover it.

Nat, it’s the notion of “fun” when you’re a working member of the non-fan press that shows me you’re really clueless as to what the job is about. When you’re a reporter, you’re in an alternate universe of experience from the average convention goer - whether fans are having “fun” isn’t a reasonable concern: you’re expected to go to things you’ve no personal interest in, you’re expected to find those aspects of the con that will translate to your target audience, and what might be news to the average comics fan and what might be news to you are more likely than not two distinct things. It’s never predetermined what will be news at huge events, so you have to keep moving, and to do your job access is everything. Not “additional” access, but what is mutually agreed upon between the convention and the press as adequate access.

If the con can’t allow reporters to move freely from event to event, if that freedom hurts the con’s business, it shouldn’t allow as many of them in as it does. It’s totally the convention’s call. However, this “special treatment” bullshit makes it seem as if the press is getting over on the con, or denying fans any pleasure. It’s not a “please the press” vs. “please the fans” matter at all.

“Nat, it’s the notion of “fun” when you’re a working member of the non-fan press that shows me you’re really clueless as to what the job is about.”

Well, Robert, if your reading-comprehension or understanding of the situation is that poor, then that is your problem. It is neither true that all the press credentials at the con are for working members of the non-fan press, nor is it true that I claimed they were. What is true is that some of the people who have press badges are indeed there to have fun. Believe me, I’ve talked to some of those folks. I’ve not done the polling to show that that “some” is enough to be “many”.

“whether fans are having “fun” isn’t a reasonable concern:”

It may not be a reasonable concern to the reporter. It is, however, a reasonable concerns for the fan, and for the convention. If you want to fling about obscenities and calls to “grow up” because someone dared express concern for someone besides journalists, however, you may want to put some more thought into the issue and gain a bit of perspective.

“It’s not a “please the press” vs. “please the fans” matter at all.”

I don’t know if you’ve followed the discussion here, but yes, it is that sort of a matter. What some journalists have been calling for is for areas of these crowded rooms to be set aside for press, so that they don’t have to stand in line for a long time to get in on a talk that is going to be filled to capacity. The panels for which this is an issue are the ones where there are fans standing in line to get in, and not all will make it. What the journalists are asking for is a privileged level of access that will ensure that some of them get in… and the cost of some fans who have been waiting in line getting in. (Nothing I’ve seen will increase the overall capacity available in the room, and presumably the convention has already been working these rooms as close to capacity as it is.)

Despite what you seem to believe, I am not unaware of the desires and concerns of those with press badges. I just don’t see that as the only desires and concerns of value.

I’m in the middle of about a dozen pieces on various things at San Diego, all I could squeeze in. See them over at ComicMix or pass ‘em by. If they have no intrinsic value, I’m a blue-nosed gopher and you can minus my name in your search box. After I’m done I might opine on how comics’ self-hatred spills over at San Diego onto lots of people who deserve a better shake.

“Well, Robert, if your reading-comprehension or understanding of the situation is that poor, then that is your problem.”

See, no snarkness there, just someone who knows so much more then you.

Well, actually, Nat, I personally don’t want a special press area — that already exists. I would just like a special press PASS so I don’t have to spend 60-90 minutes of my schedule PER DAY standing in the broiling sun so I can do the job I am paid. I can sit with whoever, and if a room is too full I get that.

I understand your disparagement of entitlement, and I am way too tired to even get into it now, but that part at least you have wrong.

As a member of the media who’s covered Wizard World Chicago for both a daily newspaper and CBR in the past, I’ve faced this situation at that con — Kevin Smith’s panels come to mind.

It should be celebrated that the con has gotten so popular that it’s flooded with media that want to cover the event, and not just bloggers or online industry webzines but real-live media. And the media serves a purpose at such an event by telling people who couldn’t make it what happened. By, you know, reporting the news. And it’s hard to do that if you’re not in the room. But it’s also unfair to fans if 100 reporters take up seats in a 200-seat panel.

There can be a distinction between the working press and people who aren’t — and it can be accomplished by requiring the journalist applying for the pass to prove they have an actual assignment. Concert promoters and sports teams do this for reporters and photographers. It weeds out media pros who aren’t actually covering the con as well as people who might claim to be media but aren’t. It’s selective, sure, but that’s the entertainment business. Many times I’ve wanted a photo pass to shoot a rock concert (I used to do that freelance) but have been told I can’t because the outlet I was representing didn’t cut the mustard. And that’s life.

There are other ways around this, too. For example, establish a media pool for press coverage, like the Pentagon and White House do. That is, send in 10 reporters (not 100) to an event and they can share their reportage with other outlets.

Or, video the panels on closed circuit TV feeds that air in special press rooms, so the reporters can sit in that room and watch the live action. They can’t ask questions, but typically only fans ask questions at panels anyway.

There are plenty of real-world examples of how to get around this problem. But the media attention on the con is so new and so explosive, it may just take time to work it out.

I think the press issue has enough problems to be re-evaluated. It seems to me that many folks get press passes as a cheap way to get in. I was in the press room all four days working on articles, and I sure didn’t see 3000 press reps in the room we were assigned. It was mostly empty.

Mind you, the press pass doesn’t provide much. There really is a problem with many “reporters” acting like fans. I’m still working on the load of articles we’ve covered during the Comic-Con and our team posted about 30 stories while the convention was going on. I’d like other media reps to be asked about their past resumes next year, when they apply for press passes.

Mind you, we have a reputation to built so, having fun at the convention was not a priority. For me, this convention was all work, inside the halls and outside.

So yeah, some of the press does real work. Special access would have been useful, but personally, much of the panels were not very newsworthy in my opinion. Real news and “promotions” are still indistinguishable in this industry.

About the issue of a allowing a fan or a reporter to seat in a room, more experienced events organizers have figured out a long time ago that most media will get your message spread wide across further than one fan being satisfied. But then, one must never forget that the media is not there to spread the message of the vendor. It’s there to be objective and cover newsworthy material. If it’s not newsworthy, it should not be covered. What is newsworthy is not decided by exhibitors or even organizers.

“I personally don’t want a special press area […] but that part at least you have wrong. ”

I don’t think I said anything about what you specifically were asking for, Heidi. I was addressing the things actually stated in the piece, where you’re quoting folks saying things like “The con may need to consider setting aside a space in each panel room for the media.”

“I would just like a special press PASS so I don’t have to spend 60-90 minutes of my schedule PER DAY standing in the broiling sun so I can do the job I am paid. I can sit with whoever, and if a room is too full I get that.”

I don’t know of any panels where one had to spend time standing in line if the room was not too full; if it’s not too full, you can show up a minute before the event and get a seat. Possibly I missed some major change in procedure, as I was not trying to go to too many panels this year. Of course, it may be hard to predict when the room is going to be too full ahead of time, but that’s a problem for everyone — not just the people who are being paid to be there, but also the people who are paying to be there.

Nat, do you agree, yes or no, that there should always be space or special access provided for the media in such events/panels, or do you think that the fact that they got in for free makes them less “important” than paying guests?

It sounds like you’re setting up a false comparison, as though unless they get special access, they are treated as less important. (Or “important”, as you choose to quote it, although it doesn’t seem to be quoting anything relevant in this discussion.)

Since there is already “studio executive” space being set aside in the big rooms, I would have no problem if the folks running the panel were able to indicate the people the seats were for, thus allowing them the opportunity to make certain that a certain number of people the panel felt were important to have -press or otherwise- got seats (assuming this could be done without placing undue strain on CCI resources.)

>>>I don’t know of any panels where one had to spend time standing in line if the room was not too full; if it’s not too full, you can show up a minute before the event and get a seat.

Dude, you have obviously never been to Hall H.

Holy crap! Better turn on the spell check, babe!

It was very nice running into you in San Diego. Take care, and see you soon.

p.s: my brother wrote his impressions of the convention on our blog.

Just a lowly fan, but I’ve been blogging the con, some live over at CBR, more in the last few days at my own site. My wife and I took about 400 photos this year, and posted almost 300 of them in our con photo gallery.

I’m still surprised you didn’t abandon the Eisners for the ONI party. Luckily there are photos of how fabulous I look dancing with Chynna.

nah nah nah nahhh nah

I suggested to many people at con, including the 501st Legion table, that 300 people in Stormtrooper outfits should each get one of those shields and then march in unison down the main aisle yelling “We are San Diego” and “Uhnnnnhn!”. Or start the Masquerade with it.

Combining that with my idea of actually letting people camp out in Hall H (as long as they’re camping out there all day anyway, may as well get them out of the hotel room pool), it’s surprising that the con never does any of my suggestions.

This event was a lot of fun but honestly the worst part was trying to watch the movie, which was across the field on the smallish “Jumbotron”. We left after a few minutes of the movie.

Leading up to it, however, was immense fun–everyone battering their 300 shields with their 300 thundersticks, seeing some of the cast of Blade Runner and Babylon 5, and debating whether or not to throw our shields at the utterly clueless and self-involved “host” of the evening whose name we chose not to remember.

My first visit to Petco, and it was a grand park. I hope one of these years the Pads actually play during the Con (despite the resulting traffic nightmare that would result).

the last time I went to SD, they were still building the park.

I did enjoy, in previous years, taking the trolley all the way out to Jack Murphy to see the Padres play, including getting to see two personal favorites face off: Tony Gwynn and Greg Maddux.

I go to Petco every chance I get…I so love the park. I have yet to see the Tony Gwynn statue though. It was dark at the screening and the Park at the Park was closed off.

The event itself was rather snoozy, and the Rubios wasn’t open (it’s the only thing I’ll eat on game days). The more interesting part of the evening was seeing the Blade Runner folks apparently sauced to their gills as they said their hellos. It seemed like all the WB-related people who came out to wave at the crowd would rather go back to that thumping private WB party on the other side of the mezzanine.

Is it just me or does Todd McFarlane look an awful lot like Christian Bale (in particular from THE PRESTIGE) in this footage?

Maybe a little… as if Christian Bale just ended a good two week bender in Amsterdam… yikes.

[…] Via THE BEAT. […]

Yeah, we made it our mission (unknowingly) to walk a lot of people back to their places when we could. I know up near the Radison, there’s actually a jail and some unsavory types lurking around trying to sell crack. (no kidding) For some reason, no one messes with us giant irish/german looking guys.

I feel awful for Geoff though, there’s not much you can do when assholes are on the prowl like that. What a weak thing to do to cold cock a guy from the side. Cowards.

Damn, I wanted to add that it’s too bad Darwyn Cook wasn’t with Geoff on the way back, he’d of kicked all their asses!

I’m never taken part in the San Diego nightlife when I’ve attended the Con, so I ask those who do: Do you perceive much of a police presense downtown? Do they do stuff like foot patrols, or just the usual drive-by on the hour? Just curious. From Geoff’s unfortunate story, it sounds like they need to amp up the police presence in the problem areas.

It’s cleaned up a lot over the past 20 years, but people forget downtown ‘Diego used to be full of hobos, prostitutes and drunken sailors.

Now it’s angry drunken club kids. From what I’ve seen, the cops hang out in front of the clubs. If you take a side street anywhere at night, you’re pretty much on your own.

I have heard reports of two other similar incidents, and in fact, on Friday night encountered a very angry man, screaming that he had just been jumped by six guys. He wasn’t obviously injured, but the adrenaline was clearly still rushing through his veins.

I am not into violence, but i would love to get those guys and beat them with my baseball bat. I cant do it with my hands, because I need them to work…but that kind of crap just pisses me off.

GEOFF, the good thing is that they probably will all get gangbanged in prison very soon.

that has to be some kind of comfort…

Jimmy Palmiotti

the thing I remember from years ago (late 90s) is that I would come in on monday and tuesday and you could see a good number of homeless people between the hotels and the convention center. By Thursday, they had magically been removed/displaced/… elsewhere in town.

My wife and I were attcked by two guys, nose broken neck crunched. Cops got one of them. A Morris agent was drugged and mugged. San Diego is officially a shithole

Go for the eyes.

shit, hope the guy’s ok now.

guess Matt Fraction wasn’t joking at all in this video…

http://www.newrageorder.com/?page_id=233#bMattFraction

That’s really suprising, downtown San Diego generally isn’t that dangerous. However the streets are totally crowded with drunken frat meat heads and military types after dark. Having grown up in SD I can say that at least it’s not like philly, where block to block you have to be careful where you are. One moment, safe urban atmosphere, one block over: it’s like the fucking thunderdome. Overturned cars on fire and crap.

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article Writer attacked in San Diego, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

[…] 4)      Video of what The Hulk will look like in the new film starring Edward Norton. […]

Looks a lot better than the baby-faced Hulk Ang Lee’s guys modelled off of Bana’s face. Very much has the vibe of 70s-era Hulk, especially on those painted covers for the magazine.

Alright! Frankenstein Hulk! Let’s hope he talks this time.

We NEED a good Hulk movie. The original was not as bad as many think. The fight scenes were great, and showed what we’re being promised in the sequel.

I’ve got a longer one …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIDTTKdxbT0

I’ve two other Gaiman-Ross clips, as well. Just click on the “more from this user” link.

You shoulda been there, Heidi!

Now THAT’S search engine keyword optimization.

I think the quality on these videos is great, much better than last year’s. I just wish Divx would fix their compatibility with Firefox. This video shows up in your post completely gigantic, going off the screen.

dammit! *still can’t watch* We need transcripts for those who can’t see the interview!

Huh. I thought Dirk Deppey was Heidi’s mortal enemy.

Be of good cheer, Heidi. Apparently, neither you or Whitney made it through the Eisners.
You may be mortal enemies, but you’re evenly matched.

Thanks for the support, guys.

I am so, so, so sad that it’s already over. I only got two days and it seemed like the shortest comic con I’ve ever done. Circumstances dictated that I couldn’t see some friends for more then a few minutes and then it’s “until next year.” The size of the thing didn’t help ether. We went form one end of the con to another trying to see things and get things done. After a bit we had to give up on some things (finding people, seeing panels, even checking out opportunities) out of shier exhaustion. It didn’t help that everyone one else seemed so overwhelmed , that I felt bad going up to them, myself. Heidi, I just wanted to say thank you for stopping me from leaving your panel (as youappeared to be one of those people) before we could say hi to each other. It was really great talking to you.

If you download and install the beta version of the divx web player at http://labs.divx.com/node/248 you can get it to work properly in Firefox.

[…] SD07: Video Blog #5 - Charles Vess from THE BEAT […]

The Divx folks owe Scott MORSE an apology for cocking up his name on the titles.

Hmm… Can’t get these to work in Firefox OR explorer… every time I try to install the warning lights go off and say theres a virus of some sort attached. bloodhound dot something. Shame.